Are you interested in adopting a pet of your own? Most cities boast animal shelters that can help pair families with the perfect puppies or kitties. The Humane Society is one of the most well known, however, there are quite a few kinds of shelters you can choose from.

Traditional – These are usually privately owned non-profit organizations, such as the Humane Society. They care for any creature that arrives at their door. Some are contracted by the local government to handle the care of strays as well as animal control for the area.

Municipal – A government-ran shelter that is paid for by tax dollars. To keep their funding, they cannot refuse any animals. Their services can be limited to just a city or be expanded to include an entire county.

Balanced Population – Some consider these the animal shelters of the future. They also agree to take in any animals that are in need of love and care. There different between this type and the other kinds is that they are opened in regions that reached a balanced population of companion animals, like puppies, so there is no need to euthanize strays.

Limited Admission – Another private non-profit organization, this type does not euthanize animals because of overcrowding. To avoid doing this, they limit the number of animals they take in.

Sanctuaries – These offer care and housing to mainly large animals, ones that cannot be adopted, or those with special needs. They are all non-profit and privately owned.

Rescues – Private organizations that specialize in fostering and arranging adoptions for a specific type of animal or breed. Rescues are mainly worked by volunteers and only taken in a few animals at a time.